Shots Fired Near Mount Vernon HS At Dismissal Time: Police

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Police are looking for the person who fired shots from a vehicle, striking another car just feet from Mount Vernon High School.

On Monday, shortly before 3:30 p.m., Mount Vernon police answered a report of shots fired on California Road near Mount Vernon High School. Officers spoke with witnesses who said the shots were fired from a passing vehicle. Surveillance video showed parts of the shooting, which appeared to involve at least two vehicles.

Detectives located one vehicle that was struck by the gunfire. Investigators are attempting to interview witnesses to the broad daylight gun play that occurred as classes were letting out for the day just a few hundred feet away.

In a statement released late Tuesday night, Mount Vernon Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton took the opportunity to both reassure the community and to call on local officials to restore funding for school resource officers.

"As some in the community are aware, there was a shooting in the vicinity of The Mount Vernon High School on Monday, September 13th," Hamilton wrote. "It did not involve our students and did not take place on school property.This event is a reminder of the many challenges our community and school district face. School Resource Officers have played a critical role in stemming violence and bridging the police-community divide in our community and our schools. It is imperative that the school district be provided with the resources to combat violence and promote school safety."

Mount Vernon police ask that anyone who may have witnessed this shooting incident or who has information about it to contact detectives at 914-665-2510. All calls will be kept confidential.